Unpleasant People 5 Update

Hey there, Internet Zone!

I have been horrendously absent from the World Wide Webernet for awhile, but my excuse is that I've been working on comics and some freelance illustration projects, which I consider a valid excuse. Maybe.

Anyway, I since my last post I've come out with a new issue of Brain Parts, some selections from which I will be posting here, as well as Private Parts, a short little Brain Parts-offshoot for naughty humor, pinups and semi-nudity. I'm pretty sure it was the glitter on the cover that really sold Private Parts at the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo.

I've also been hard at work on Unpleasant People 5. Keeping with my apparent pattern, it's longer than the previous issues (around 30 or 30+ pages). I'm penciling right now, which is the stage I enjoy most. For your viewing pleasure, I give you, the faces of Unpleasant People 5:

While I'm still working on Unpleasant People 5, most of my posts will be sketches, but hopefully I'll be getting them up here more regularly. Once I get the main site for Unpleasant People up and running, I'll post an update here and link to it.

That's all, folks!

I have not been idle!

So, AGES since my last post...

This is why. I'm coding the whole thing from scratch, and learning quite a bit about HTML 5, which is pretty fun. It's intended to be a mostly static site, for the purposes of promoting my work to potential illustration clients. I also had the URL printed on my new business cards, and was under pressure to get something up there before distributing said cards and the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (MICE) which, of course, was awesome!

 It's still a work-in-progress. I have a few more illustrations to post, and I need to get a real online store going (so if anyone has any feedback concerning paypal, etsy and/or other online selling options, feel free to email me!), add some links and make the whole thing a little more polished.

Here's a cut little picture that I did three years ago, because this post needs a picture:

Although I haven't been posting them here, I've been working on both short comics for the next issue of Brain Parts (once I have that scanning-party, I'll post some) and Unpleasant People #5. Related to that, I'm also working on a website for Unpleasant People which will have a blog, character profiles, sketches and the first three issues available to read for free!

Here's the header for the Unpleasant People website, because this post needs another picture:

So I've put a lot on my plate. Fortunately, Boston Comic Con 2014 is in August again which gives me plenty of time. I plan on having two new issues of Brain Parts by then as well as Unpleasant People #5. I'm also tossing together an issue of Brain Parts with comics that I did when at the Center for Cartoon Studies.

Also, to those living local in the Boston area, Unpleasant People #1-4 are at Hub Comics in the local artists section. Yaaay!

MICE 2012

Oooooooh damn, how long has it been since my last blog post? A long time. I don't even want to look. Oh god. Too long.

Here's another Star Trek: Voyager comic to prove I haven't been slacking:

The Borg Queen has SUCH a villain-crush on Janeway!

Well, I'm still alive. Since my last blog post I've finished Unpleasant People #4 ($3 plus shipping), put together Brain Parts #3 ($1 plus shipping), moved to a new apartment, attended the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (aka MICE) for the first time and been off-and-on scripting this webcomic idea of mine mentioned in my last post. So, it's not like I haven't been doing anything. I just haven't been sharing it with the internet.

Well, here's the fruit of my labors:

 

 If you'd like to order either of these books, or any of my other zines or comics, or get a full price list of what I'm selling, email me at holly_foltz@yahoo.com

The zombie-waiter cover of Brain Parts #3 is my favorite Brain Parts cover I've done so far. I'm also proud of the Unpleasant People cover. It's a transparency printed with the title and cover image, over a wallpaper sample, so each issue is different. 

 

And here's some of the great stuff I scored at MICE (which represents only a fraction of the kickass art and comics available there. I had to limit myself as, after this last move, I realized I just have no room for more comics).

 

Row 1: "Thrift Store Batman", can't find the info for the hilarious person who traded this with me, "The Plot" numbers 1 and 2 by Neil Brideau 

Row 2: "Strange New Worlds", a Star Trek fanzine edited by the talented Denis St. John, featuring two one-pagers by yours truly, thenkyouvurrymuch, "Klown from the Moon: A Killer Klown Survival Guide" by S.R. Bissette, Denis St. John and Mike Crosier, "The Alfa Bravo Charlies" by Anna Jo Beck, "The Littlest Elder God" by Nathan Kitler

Row 3: "Today is a Good Day to Dine" by Joey Peters, "Darkfull" by Roho and Jamie Hibdon, "Space for Rent in Latveria" by Swamp Thing and Maggie Siegel-Berele

Chad Sell had a wide range of work at his table. The standout work was his digital portraits of the queens from "RuPaul's Drag Race", which he was selling as large and small prints and in booklets ("Chad Sell does 30 Queens"). He also had some great comics, both of the kid-friendly variety ("Kittybunny: the Bag Grab") and of the drunken-superheroin variety ("Fool Girl: of Monkeys and Masks"). It was great to meet him and check his work out!

 

 Joel Gill, a local fellow and art professor who does comics and zines both entertaining and educational (often at the same time!) was sold out of the Black Conservative Trading Card (series 2) packs when I got to his table, but I picked up a printed card of them. They have hilarious quotes and "Abilities & Powers" on the back! Can't wait for series 3!

Jeff Lok, a friend from Center for Cartoon Studies, was tabling with Jose-Luis Olivares and myself and I got to trade with him for two of his great comics ("The Gag Rag #2" and "Oh Babies")! They lure you with the familiarity of the style of early animation (such as Betty Boop and the early years of Loony Toons) only to punch you in the gut with violence and tragedy. Very visceral, very funny and definitely not for the sensitive!

I was pleasantly surprised to see my pal Kenan Rubenstein there, who is responsible for some of the most thoughtful and beautiful comics I've seen at a convention. He was selling his gorgeous new book, "Last Train to Old Town: Chapter 1", hand-made, perfect-bound, full-color. All of his comics have a unique "look" to them (unusual sizes, shapes, binding, etc) and this one is no exception. The ending makes you eager to read more, and I can't wait for the next issue.

 

  

So, that was MICE. A great show, can't wait for next year! Time to dive into Unpleasant People #5! Stay tuned!